Moon Knight #12 — Writer: Charlie Huston; Penciler: Mico Suayan
The climax to the second big arc, and you know, I’ve been reading this all along, and I have no idea what’s going on. Between all the flashbacks and the confusing narrative and the art (which is sometimes nice to look at, but always hard to follow), and the erratic publishing schedule, I can’t remember any of this. Wait — the girl’s a robot? The guy’s a robot? A cyborg? He was the sidekick, right? No, wait… ah, it’s not worth it. Maybe this is one of those books that would read better in the trade, but it’s just not fun or compelling enough for me to care.
The Walking Dead #42 — Writer: Robert Kirkman; Art: Charlie Adlard
This is actually a book I should be buying; it’s got well-realized characters, and Kirkman’s very good at keeping the plot lively and throwing in unexpected twists and deaths (something that springs naturally from its setting, a zombie-invested near-future United States) — this issue certainly ends with one of his patented “Oh, crap!” moments, and makes me eager to read the next one. So, why don’t I keep it? Maybe it’s because of the black-and-white art, which is serviceable but not stunning, or maybe it’s just knowing that the whole story is out there in trade-paperback volumes, available if I want it. Those of you who’ve never checked it out, though, should definitely pick up a trade or two and see if you like it.
Suicide Squad: From the Ashes #1 — Writer: John Ostrander; Penciller: Javi Pina; Inker: Robin Riggs
Another title that I came close to buying — I was a fan of the original series, and this one is by Ostrander, the original writer, too, so it’s a good match for them. Maybe the problem is it’s too good a match — after 60-plus issues, the original was starting to run out of steam, and this has all the old characters and relationships still in place (it’s apparently not in continuity, since even Captain Boomerang is still around, spouting his Australian slang); it’s comfortable and competent, but not really necessary, if that makes sense.
Booster Gold #2 — Writers: Geoff Johns & Jeff Katz; Layouts: Dan Jurgens; Finishes: Norm Rapmund
After the first-issue set-up, this seems to have evolved quickly into an Exiles/Quantum Leap structure, as Booster has to go to various points in the DC Universe’s past, and make sure things get put right (here, he’s trying to keep Sinestro from messing up Hal Jordan’s origin, and next issue looks like it’s Jonah Hex involved with one of Clark Kent’s ancestors). It’s not badly done — Booster’s appeal to the bad guy’s ego here is a clever way to win without just punching him, and his ongoing quest to convince Rip Hunter to “fix” Blue Beetle’s death shows some promise. However, it’s all a bit continuity-heavy, and there’s not much suspense, since we know everything has to turn out OK in the end (yeah, you can argue that that’s true of most comics, but still…).
Countdown Presents: The Search for Ray Palmer: Wildstorm #1 — Writer: Ron Marz; Artist: Angel Unzueta; Inkers: Oliver Nome, Richard Friend, Saleem Crawford, Trevor Scott
Well, the whole Sinestro Corps thing must work out OK, because Ion’s back here as a regular Green Lantern, and he, Donna Troy, Jason Todd and a Monitor are now hopping from Earth to Earth, looking for the former Atom to save the multiverse. If all of this excites you, go for it, but the pattern used here — pop up in the Wildstorm version of Earth, tangle with the Authority (where Marz has to hit us over the head with the Apollo-Midnighter-hey-guess-what-they’re-lovers relationship), find out Palmer’s been and gone, and then leave to check out the next Earth — already feels uninspired. Wake me when they actually find him — if then.
Ghost Rider # 15 — Writer: Daniel Way; Breakdowns: Javier Saltares; Finishes: Mark Texiera
Another book I almost bought — GR doesn’t do anything aggressively stupid this time, and it’s mostly a lot of jump-cutting between various characters as Way sets things up for a big fight over the next issue or two, but the dialogue flows smoothly and the supporting characters are mostly appealing, and the art’s not bad, either (there’s always at least one cool splash of GR in each issue, and here it’s on the last page). If I could only work up some actual interest in the title character….
Black Adam #2 — Writer: Peter J. Tomasi; Penciller: Doug Mahnke; Inker: Christian Alamy
This could be worth it for the art — Mahnke’s got a style that’s somehow slick and gritty at the same time, forcing me to come up with phrases like “horrifically cartoony” (look at his Felix Faust, for instance, or that cover). It’s the plot that loses me, though — it’s set in the past, we know it isn’t going to work out, and instead of the failed-redemption arc of this character that worked in 52 we just have a sad bad guy who’s going to get sadder and badder. No, thanks — if I want “depressing” I can go read the news; I don’t need this comic to provide it too.
Punisher War Journal #11 — Writer: Matt Fraction; Penciler: Leandro Fernandez; Inker: Francisco Paronzini
Mostly a transition issue, as we clean up loose ends from the last story (and, thankfully, put the “Punicap” (“Capisher”?) idea to rest), and set up the next one. There’s a decent little conversation between Frank and Bucky about that, but it’s the last-page reveal of the “new” antagonist that stops me — I do not want to read another Punisher story with this guy, and it’s an, um, puzzle to me why it’s a good idea to bring him back, unless it’s for comic relief.
Phil Mateer
